Drake University has promoted associate dean Dr. Kelly Bruhn, APR, to lead the School of Journalism and Mass Communication as its next dean. Bruhn will assume the role July 1, 2026, following the retirement of the current dean, Dr. Catherine M. Staub. Bruhn will serve as the ninth dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) since its founding in 1962.
“Dr. Kelly Bruhn is, quite simply, the gold standard for a modern communication leader and educator,” said Drake University Provost Sue Mattison. “Her work has elevated the public relations profession across the Midwest, and her student-centered leadership has prepared the next generation of communicators to tackle the changing media landscape with confidence. She is the ideal choice to lead the School of Journalism and Mass Communication into its next chapter.”
Bruhn holds a doctorate from Michigan State University, a master’s degree from Ball State University, and a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University. Additionally, she is a member of the Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism and Mass Communication Honor Society. Prior to joining the Drake faculty in 2009, she taught at Michigan State University and worked in the public relations industry for corporate clients and various non-profit organizations.
“It is the honor of my lifetime to serve the SJMC,” said Bruhn. “While our industry is constantly evolving, one thing remains unchanged: our outstanding students, faculty, staff and alumni work together and support one another to create award-winning creative work, reporting, and innovative, strategic projects. I am proud to celebrate our legacy of excellence and ready to lead our SJMC family at this moment in our school’s history.”
Dedicated Educator, Administrator, and Professional
Bruhn works tirelessly to build the next generation of ethical communicators, and she was named the 2024 PRSA Outstanding Educator, an award given to one PR professor annually. She has taught the senior PR capstone course for nearly two decades, working with community partners to develop high-impact educational experiences for students. Her students provide nearly 3,000 hours of strategic communications counseling annually to local nonprofit organizations, helping students develop dynamic portfolios while also delivering powerful results that are meaningful in the community. She was named the 2022 Madelyn Leavitt Mentor of the Year, one of only two faculty awards presented annually at Drake. The award recognizes the “faculty or staff member who best demonstrates excellence in advising, an outstanding commitment to student success, and integrity in personal relationships.”
She has built innovative recruitment programs, like high school summer camps and customized workshops to support scholastic journalism and high school publications advisors. She led the development of the Strategic Political Communication major and the Sports Media and Communication major, launched in Fall 2025. She developed the University’s first online-only master’s program, the Master of Arts in Communication, and she served as the University’s inaugural Administrative Fellow for Graduate Programs to support graduate student enrollment and retention university-wide.
Bruhn served as interim dean in 2023-2024, leading through a successful ACEJMC re-accreditation where the SJMC earned compliance on all eight standards. In her report to the accrediting council, the site team chair said, “The interim dean, Dr. Bruhn, is a force of nature. In her mere months in the role, she has not only maintained excellence, but she has also continued to push forward, leading innovation, mentoring new faculty and students, and leading with contagious energy and passion. Dr. Bruhn’s passion is the glue that holds together the family.”
Outside the classroom, Bruhn has been active in the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She has served as chair and board member of PRSA Educators Academy and is a former board member and president of the PRSA Iowa Chapter, where she helped the chapter increase its membership and become one of the strongest in the Midwest. She earned her accreditation in public relations (APR) and has served as an accreditation chair and mentor for professionals working toward earning their APR. The Iowa chapter has one of the highest percentages of members who have earned their APR. She currently serves as a PRSA representative on the Universal Accreditation Board.
Later this month, Bruhn will be inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows, one of the highest honors in PRSA. Comprised of senior public relations practitioners and educators, the prestigious group includes individuals who have made a significant, lasting impact on the public relations and communications profession. Bruhn is one of only five public relations practitioners in Iowa to be inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows.
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) and has been continuously accredited since 1972. This prestigious status has been achieved by fewer than 30% of the nation’s undergraduate programs. Furthermore, Drake’s program holds a unique distinction: it is the only accredited program at a private school in the Midwest. The Drake Public Relations program holds the Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR)—a distinction only 50 programs in the world have achieved. The program first earned the recognition in 2014.